Tip 8: Choose recyclable products and containers and recycle them
hen
you've done all you can to avoid waste, recycle. Producing goods from recycled
materials typically consumes less energy and conserves raw materials. Yet,
our landfills are packed with many packages and products that can be recycled.
(See Degradables
Debate)
Consider
products made of materials that are collected for recycling locally; in
many communities, this includes glass, aluminum, steel, some paper and
cardboard, and certain plastics. Check with appropriate community officials,
volunteer groups, or recycling businesses to determine what materials
are collected for recycling. If a system is not in place to return a certain
type of material, that material is not easily "recyclable."
Participate
in community recycling drives, curbside programs, and drop-off collections.
Call community officials, the local recycling center, or a nearby recycling
business to find out if and how materials should be separated. For example,
some communities require that glossy inserts be segregated from newspaper,
and that different types of cans be separated. A magnet can be used to
distinguish steel or bimetal cans from aluminum cans (a magnet does not
stick to aluminum). Also, investigate curbside pickup schedules, determine
what materials are accepted, locate drop-off sites, and find out when
these sites are open.
If
a recycling program does not exist in your community, participate in establishing
one. Call local salvage operators to see if they will accept or pick up
materials for recycling. Work with community officials to determine the
most cost-effective recycling options for your area.
Take
used car batteries ("lead-acid batteries"), antifreeze, and
motor oil (saved in clean nonbreakable containers) to participating automobile
service centers and other places that collect these items for recycling.
As
more businesses and organizations provide collection opportunities, take
advantage of them. For example, many grocery stores collect bags for recycling.
